B’nai B’rith chapter begun in Moscow; talks could lead to opening office
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
December 28, 1988
WASHINGTON—Thirty-eight leaders of the Moscow Jewish community have founded the first unit of B’nai B’rith in the Soviet Union, B’nai B’rith International reported here Tuesday.
In addition, a delegation of American Jewish leaders, in discussions with Soviet officials in Moscow this month, raised the possibility of opening B’nai B’rith offices in Moscow and other cities in the Soviet Union.
The B’nai B’rith chapter was organized by a delegation that visited the Soviet Union Dec. 12 to 19. It was headed by Seymour Reich, international president of B’nai B’rith.
A spokesman for the organization told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the Soviet Union now becomes the 42nd country worldwide to have B’nai B’rith presence.
He said the questions of a charter, facilities, and offices for the new unit are still pending.
B’nai B’rith does not claim to be the first international Jewish organization to embrace Jews living in the Soviet Union.
The World Emunah Women of Israel inaugurated chapters in Leningrad and Moscow last Aug. 1, according to a report from Jerusalem.
The group led by Reich met with high-ranking officials representing the Culture and Foreign Affairs ministries, and with Konstantin Kharchev, chairman of the Soviet State Council of Religious Affairs.
According to Reich, Soviet authorities agreed to enact legislation setting specific limits on how long a citizen may be denied an exit visa on grounds of knowledge of state secrets.
Officials agreed to ease the requirement that all relatives of a person must approve emigration before a visa is issued.
Source: https://www.jta.org/archive/bnai-brith-chapter-begun-in-moscow-talks-could-lead-to-opening-office